Merry Christmas!
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Faith on Sunday, December 25, 2011
Madonna of the Fir Tree, Marianne Stokes, 1925
“Saint Luke does not say that the angels sang. He states quite soberly: the heavenly host praised God and said: ‘Glory to God in the highest.’
But men have always known that the speech of angels is different from human speech, and that above all on this night of joyful proclamation it was in song that they extolled God’s heavenly glory. So this angelic song has been recognized from the earliest days as music proceeding from God, indeed, as an invitation to join in the singing with hearts filled with joy at the fact that we are loved by God. Cantare amantis est, says Saint Augustine: singing belongs to one who loves.
Thus, down the centuries, the angels’ song has again and again become a song of love and joy, a song of those who love. At this hour, full of thankfulness, we join in the singing of all the centuries, singing that unites heaven and earth, angels and men. Yes, indeed, we praise you for your glory. We praise you for your love. Grant that we may join with you in love more and more and thus become people of peace.”
—Benedict XVI, Homily for Midnight Mass 2010
Fellowship of the Angels
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Reviews on Monday, December 12, 2011
At just the moment we begin harking to the herald angels, Mike Aquilina has released a delightful volume of daily meditations on them.
Handsomely bound, with a faux leather cover and a ribbon to keep your place, the book offers a simple daily reading about the angels from the Church Fathers, followed by suggested colloquies to make with God and with the angels.
In his introduction to the work, Aquilina... READ MORE
Angels Everywhere
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Thursday, September 29, 2011
Fans of prolific children’s author Tomie dePaola will be happy to learn that a new book is on the way!
My First Angels is the latest in Mr. dePaola’s My First series. The book looks at the importance of remembering that angels are all around us, everywhere we go.
Do you have a favorite Tomie dePaola book? Around here we love his Book of Bible Stories. And The Popcorn Book. And who could forget The Clown of God.... READ MORE
Don't Mess With Michael
Posted by DariaSockey in Faith on Thursday, September 29, 2011
A true story.
When my husband was in grad school getting his M.A in philosophy, he lived in a guest house of a religious order, along with several of his friends. There was a small statue of St. Michael in a niche in the hallway. It was the typical pose, based on that famous painting where Michael is standing on the neck of Lucifer and brandishing a spear.
There was also something on his head that,... READ MORE
Tiny New Catholics
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Thursday, June 23, 2011
When Linus and Ambrose were four weeks old, we had them baptized.
For me, it was definitely the most joyous day of their lives so far - even better than the day we brought them both home from the NICU.
Ceremonies don’t usually make me weepy. I laughed with joy through my own wedding. Baptisms are the one exception to that.
Near the beginning of the rite when the celebrant says to the baby, “I claim... READ MORE
Guardian Near
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Thursday, January 13, 2011
Do you talk to your guardian angel?
My sister has a special relationship with hers, and she regularly encourages the rest of us to ask our angels for prayers and help.
I’ve always thought - based on what I knew about guardian angels - that this seemed like a good idea, but somehow I never got into the habit.
That changed early last month.
I had my first visit to the maternal-fetal medicine specialists... READ MORE
Bake Up Some Food of the Angels
Posted by Danielle Bean in Food on Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Happy Feast of the Arch Angels!
With a Gabrielle, Raphael, and Michael (middle name) in the house, I figure I owe my family a cake today.
And what better cake to serve on the feast of the angels than a heavenly angel food cake? You can make a mix or bake up your own with this simple recipe:
Angel Food Cake
12 eggs
1 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar... READ MORE
Feast of the Archangels
Posted by Danielle Bean in Faith on Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Reader Cyndi sent along this photo of the adorable cookies she baked for today’s feast along with this note:
Thank you for post last year - “Feast of the Archangels: How will you celebrate?” I made sure to make the day special this year for my son, Gabriel Augustine. Just by coincidence, our home parish and school is St. Michael the Archangel. So, I made a bunch of cookies for him to take to school for a treat and I printed off the archangel coloring pages for the teacher to pass out.
Nice job, Cyndi! Here are the Litany to the Holy Angels and the Archangel coloring pages to assist others in their celebrations today.
Speaking of Angels
Posted by Danielle Bean in Family on Thursday, October 02, 2008
With all the recent talk of archangels and guardian angels, 7-year-old Stephen has heavenly bodies on his mind.
This morning he looked skeptically over his right shoulder.
“Where does my angel sit?” he wanted to know. “Is it on this shoulder? Or is this the devil’s spot?”
Feast of Guardian Angels
Posted by Danielle Bean in Faith on Thursday, October 02, 2008
Today is the Feast of Guardian Angels.
Do you pray to your guardian angel? Do you pray to your children’s angels? What about your husband’s angel?
A wise priest once advised me to pray frequently to my husband’s guardian angel.
I know the guardian angel prayer and I often invoke my children’s angels when praying for their safety. I must admit, though, that it had never before occurred to me to pray... READ MORE
